1976 Nauruan Parliamentary Election
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Parliamentary elections were held in
Nauru Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...
on 18 December 1976. Following the election,
Bernard Dowiyogo Bernard Annen Auwen Dowiyogo (14 February 1946 – 9 March 2003) was a Nauruan politician who served as President of Nauru on seven separate occasions. During this time, he also served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Ubenide. ...
was elected President by Members of the Parliament.Nauru
Inter-Parliamentary Union


Background

In July 1976 Parliament had forced President
Hammer DeRoburt Hammer DeRoburt (25 September 1922 – 15 July 1992) was the first President of the Republic of Nauru, and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence. Background and early career Born in 1922, DeRoburt was the g ...
– head of state since independence in 1968 – to resign after refusing to pass financial bills. However, within a few hours DeRoburt was re-elected president unopposed.


Campaign

A total of 43 candidates contested the elections, two of whom were elected unopposed.No fun and games when party politics creep up on Nauru
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', February 1977, pp8–10
An informal
Nauru Party Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kir ...
was formed prior to the election, the first party on the island. Its members were younger MPs who had been concerned about the country's economic policy and saw DeRoburt's government of making decisions without proper discussion.


Results

15 of the 18 incumbents were re-elected.
Lagumot Harris Lagumot Gagiemem Nimidere Harris (23 December 1938 – 8 September 1999) was a political figure from the Pacific nation of the Republic of Nauru, and served as its President. He was a cousin of René Harris. First term as President of Nauru L ...
, MP for
Ubenide Ubenide is a constituency of Nauru made up of four districts: Baitsi, Denigomodu, Nibok, and Uaboe. It covers an area of 4.5 km² (1.73 mi²), making it the second largest constituency by area, and is the most populous constituency with a popu ...
, was surprisingly defeated.


By constituency


Aftermath

The newly elected Parliament met on 21 December and re-elected
Kenas Aroi Kenas Aroi (17 April 1942 – 22 January 1991) was a Nauruan political figure. He was President of the Republic of Nauru from 17 August to 12 December 1989. Background Aroi was a member of the Parliament of Nauru, Speaker of the Parliament of ...
was re-elected as
Speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** In ...
. After DeRoburt refused to listen to suggestions that he appoint some new ministers to his cabinet, he lost the vote for president to
Bernard Dowiyogo Bernard Annen Auwen Dowiyogo (14 February 1946 – 9 March 2003) was a Nauruan politician who served as President of Nauru on seven separate occasions. During this time, he also served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Ubenide. ...
by nine votes to seven. Following the election, Nauru Party MPs met with DeRoburt and promised that Dowiyogo would resign and allow him to run unopposed if he reconsidered making changes to his cabinet. However, he refused, taking the view that the president should be free to choose their own cabinet. Dowiyogo appointed a new cabinet, including Aroi, who subsequently resigned as Speaker.
Samuel Tsitsi Samuel Edwin Tsitsi (17 January 192520 May 1997) was a Nauruan politician. Biography Tsitsi was born on 17 January 1925. His father was Samuel Tsitsi. He was member of the Eamwidara tribe. In 1939, he entered the medical service as an apprentice ...
was elected in his place. On 24 December, DeRoburt called a special session of parliament to propose a motion that the new government had been formed outside the constitution, which did not provide for party politics. The debate was halted when Tsisti resigned as Speaker, also giving up his seat in Parliament. The following week David Gadaroa was elected as the third Speaker of the parliamentary term. The Supreme Court later overturned the election of
Derog Gioura Derog Gioura (1 September 1932 – 25 September 2008) was a Nauruan political figure. He was President of the Republic of Nauru (acting) in 2003. Political role Gioura has been fighting many years with Kennan Adeang over a parliament ...
.
Kennan Adeang Kennan Ranibok Adeang (23 December 1942 – 26 December 2011) was a Nauruan politician who served as President of Nauru for three separate periods during the late 20th century. Born in Nauru, and educated in Australia, including at the Australian ...
was declared elected in his place. In 1977 MP
René Harris René Reynaldo Harris (11 November 1947 – 5 July 2008) was President of the Republic of Nauru four times between 1999 and 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 2008.A bouncer!
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', August 1977, p20


Notes


References

{{Nauruan elections
Nauru Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...
Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
Elections in Nauru Non-partisan elections
Nauru Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...
Election and referendum articles with incomplete results